This Date in Washington Senators History

All three of today’s birthday boys share the distinction of playing briefly for the Senators at the end of their respective careers.

Samuel Lester Agnew B Apr. 12, 1887 D Jul. 19, 1951

Catcher Sam Agnew began his 7 year major league journey with the St. Louis Browns in April of 1913. Arriving in the majors as a 26 year old rookie, Agnew would play in 105 games that first season, hitting .208.

1914 would be Agnew’s most active season, playing in 115 games. He’d play in 104 contests for the Browns in 1915.

Sold to the Boston Red Sox after the 1915 season, Agnew would play the next 3 seasons (1916-1918) in Boston, his most active season being 1917 when he’d appear in 85 contests.

Agnew appeared in 4 games of the 1918 World Series for Boston but would not distinguish himself, going 0 for 9 at bat.

Sold again after the 1918 season, this time to the Washington Senators, Agnew would have his best season at the plate in 1919, hitting .235 in 42 games. His final major league contest coming in late September.

Another catcher, Mickey O’Neil made his major league debut with the Boston Braves in mid-September of 1919.

Playing in 11 games, O’Neil would hit .214.

1920 would be O’Neil’s first full season (and his most active) in the majors when he’d hit .283 in 112 games. O’Neil would remain in a Braves uniform through 1925.

Traded to the Brooklyn Robins after the season, O’Neil would spend 1926 in Brooklyn, hitting .209 in 75 games.

On the move again after the 1926 season, O’Neil would be sold to the Washington Senators. O’Neil would only make it into 5 games for Washington, going 0 for 6 at the plate when he was sold one last time this time to the New York Giants. Back in the National League, O’Neil would appear in 16 games for New York. Hitting just .132 after those 16 games, he’d appear in his final major league game in mid-June.